Marine macroalgae-mediated ultrasonic-assisted green synthesis of CuO nanoparticles embedded in starch/PVA electrospun nanoscaffolds for in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

Diabetes mellitus is a rapidly growing metabolic disorder that requires effective and sustainable therapeutic strategies to manage postprandial hyperglycemia. In recent years, green synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles has emerged as a promising approach due to its eco-friendly nature, cost-effectiveness, and enhanced biocompatibility. Among these, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have gained attention for their potential in inhibiting key carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes involved in glucose metabolism. In this study, CuO NPs were synthesized via an ultrasonic-assisted green method using Chondracanthus exasperatus marine macroalgae extract and subsequently incorporated into starch/polyvinyl alcohol electrospun nanofibrous scaffolds to develop a novel nanocomposite system. The synthesized nanoparticles and scaffolds were comprehensively characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy, FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, and DLS analyses, confirming successful nanoparticle formation, phytochemical capping, uniform dispersion, and enhanced thermal stability. The antidiabetic potential of the developed system was evaluated through in vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. The nanoscaffolds exhibited significant inhibitory activity (α-amylase: 81.18% and α-glucosidase: 79.12% at 100 µg/mL) compared to CuO NPs and algal extract alone. The IC 50 values further supported enhanced efficacy of the nanocomposite system, indicating improved enzyme inhibition performance. Overall, this study presents a novel and eco-friendly nanocomposite platform that integrates green-synthesized CuO NPs with electrospun biopolymeric scaffolds, offering a promising approach for enzyme inhibition-based diabetes management. However, the findings are limited to in vitro evaluation, and further in vivo studies are required to establish clinical applicability.